After several news outlets and social media accounts criticized the NFL’s decision to select Bad Bunny for next year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, John Oliver stepped in to defend the artist. He described Bad Bunny as “one of the hottest, most commercially successful people alive.” The Puerto Rican star also leaned into the backlash, taking a jab at Fox News during his recent appearance on Saturday Night Live.
John Oliver talks about Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl 2026 event
After the NFL announced Bad Bunny’s upcoming Super Bowl 2026 performance, online outrage followed from conservative circles. Some critics cited his past criticism of Donald Trump’s policies, his Spanish-language lyrics, and gender-fluid fashion choices as reasons for disapproval.
However, Last Week Tonight host John Oliver took a different stance. While discussing recent headlines on his show, Oliver said, “The NFL controversially gave the Super Bowl Halftime Show to one of the hottest, most commercially successful people alive.”
Following the announcement, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that ICE agents would be present at the Super Bowl venue, reaffirming the statement during a later interview.
Oliver addressed this on his show, adding, “If ICE can show up and bother some guys at their roofing job, then bystanders should be able to bother ICE at their state-sanctioned kidnapping job. It is only fair.” He continued, “This administration is clearly still hell-bent on trying to intimidate communities with shows of force, which is why it is so important for them to be met with strong pushback each and every time.”
Meanwhile, Bad Bunny also responded to the controversy during his SNL monologue. “I’m very happy, and I think everyone is happy about it, even Fox News,” the three-time Grammy winner said, followed by a montage from the network jokingly edited to say, “Bad Bunny is my favorite musician. He should be the next president.”
